Weston Go Wandering, Clevedon Follow The Path

Weston-s-Mare 10 Clevedon 25
This was very much a training match for Weston as they try to develop their game beyond one which is reliant on individuals running with the ball until they score or are caught. By the finish I think it was fair to say that the coaches Pete Land and James Greatorex are a little way off achieving an expansive game. But, Weston’s players are brave, tackle well have plenty of pace and with several promising new players who have yet to appreciate the importance of positional discipline in attack and defence the future is anything but bleak. They are also very good in the scrum securing plenty of good ball; their play in the loose is also competitive so the platform is being set. The next step is for players not involved in the upfront battle to stay spread and avoid getting drawn closer and closer to the ball; to run straighter and pass the ball to team mates who are open rather than take it into contact.
The game itself was quite messy, not helped by the conditions and plenty of offences were committed which if penalised for would have meant players standing about getting even colder than they already were. Clevedon scored 3 tries in the first half two of which were as a result of wide players leaving their positions, the third was a charge down as Dylan tried to kick clear from his own try line. Weston responded with two tries by Bradley Robinson. Perhaps the pick of the tries was Dylan’s offload for Bradley to score.
Turning round Weston had the wind in their faces and for some it appeared too much and whilst Weston competed fiercely especially to prevent tries from line outs meters away from their line and won scrums against the head, they were unable to capitalise.
Clevedon closed out the game passing the ball along their line to the right flank where they were able to run in unopposed.
The Star Player Award for Weston went to Matthew James for his tackling and his unselfish play.
Can we turn the corner? I think we can.